Light-emitting assembly for keyboard

ABSTRACT

A light-emitting assembly positioned within a switch housing of a keyboard assembly for an electronic device is disclosed. The light-emitting assembly may include a phosphor structure, a transparent material positioned on opposing side surfaces of the phosphor structure, and an epoxy layer formed over an entire back surface of the phosphor structure and the transparent material. The light-emitting assembly may also include a mask layer formed over an entire top surface of: the phosphor structure, the transparent material, and the epoxy layer. The light-emitting assembly may further include a light source positioned within the phosphor structure for emitting a light.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional patent application of and claimsthe benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/058,081, filedSep. 30, 2014, and titled “Keyboard Assembly,” U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/129,843, filed Mar. 7, 2015, and titled “LightAssembly for Keyboard Assembly,” U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/058,074, filed Sep. 30, 2014, and titled “Keyboard Assembly,” U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/129,841, filed Mar. 7, 2015, andtitled “Key for Keyboard Assembly,” U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/058,067, filed Sep. 30, 2014 and titled “Keyboard Assembly,” U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/129,840, filed Mar. 7, 2015, andtitled “Dome Switch for Keyboard Assembly,” U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/058,087, filed Sep. 30, 2014, and titled “KeyboardAssembly,” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/129,842, filedMar. 7, 2015, and titled “Venting System for Keyboard Assembly,” thedisclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

FIELD

The disclosure relates generally to a keyboard assembly for anelectronic device and, more particularly, to a light-emitting assemblypositioned within a switch housing of a keyboard assembly for anelectronic device.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices typically include one or more input devices such askeyboards, touch pads, mice, touch screens, and the like to enable auser to interact with the device. These devices can be integrated intoan electronic device or can stand alone. An input device can transmitsignals to another device via a wired or wireless connection. Forexample, a keyboard can be integrated into the casing (e.g., housing) ofa laptop computer. Touch pads and other input devices may likewise beintegrated into associated electronic devices.

It may be useful to illuminate an input surface or structure when theassociated electronic device is used in a dimly lit or dark environment.Specifically, conventional keyboards typically illuminate a perimeterand/or a glyph located on each keycap of the keyboard to aid in thevisibility of the keyboard in low-light settings. However, in order tolight the keyboard, conventional keyboards often include a variety ofcomponents including a group of lights, typically positioned on one ormore light strips, a light guide panel for directing the light, and/or areflective surface for redirecting stray light and enhancing theillumination of the lights.

The variety of components may require additional space within theenclosure housing the keyboard, which may be counter to a desire todecrease the size of the keyboard. Additionally, the light strip may bea fraction of the size of the entire keyboard and may include fewerlights than the total number of keycaps in the keyboard. As a result,the light strip may unevenly illuminate the keyboard. Finally, becauseof the number of components and/or the configuration of the componentsused to illuminate a conventional keyboard, an undesirable amount ofheat may be generated within the keyboard and/or electronic device.

SUMMARY

A light-emitting assembly for a keyboard assembly is disclosed herein.The light-emitting assembly comprises a phosphor structure, atransparent material positioned on opposing side surfaces of thephosphor structure, and an epoxy layer positioned over an entire backsurface of the phosphor structure and the transparent material. Thelight-emitting assembly also comprises a mask layer positioned over anentire top surface of: the phosphor structure, the transparent material,and the epoxy layer. The light-emitting assembly further comprises alight source positioned within the phosphor structure for emitting alight.

A keyboard assembly may comprise a switch housing formed from asubstantially transparent material. The switch housing comprises aswitch opening and a light source recess positioned adjacent the switchopening. The keyboard assembly also comprises a keycap positioned abovethe switch housing and a light-emitting assembly positioned within thelight source recess of the switch housing. Additionally, thelight-emitting assembly comprises a phosphor structure, a transparentmaterial positioned on opposing side surfaces of the phosphor structure,a mask layer positioned over an entire top surface of the phosphorstructure, and the transparent material. The light-emitting assemblyalso comprises a light source positioned within the phosphor structurefor emitting a light through the switch housing.

Embodiments may take the form of a keyboard assembly comprising akeycap, a light source operably connected to the keycap and configuredto illuminate the keycap, and a light source housing at least partiallysurrounding the light source. The light source housing is operative toblock light from emanating out of the light source housing in a firstdirection and a second direction. The light source housing is alsooperative to pass light emanating in a third direction opposite thefirst direction, and the second direction is toward the keycap, asmeasured from the light source.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate like structural elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 shows an electronic device including a low-travel keyboardassembly, according to embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a light-emitting assembly of a low-travel keyboardassembly, according to embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional front view of the LED assembly takenalong line 3-3 in FIG. 2, according to embodiments.

FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of the LED assembly taken alongline 4-4 in FIG. 2, according to embodiments.

FIG. 5 shows an exploded view of a single key of the low-travel keyboardassembly of FIG. 2, according to embodiments.

FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of a low-travel keyboard assemblyincluding a switch housing taken along line CS-CS in FIG. 5, accordingto embodiments.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of a switch housing of a low-travel keyboardassembly including light-emitting assembly of FIGS. 2-4, according toembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a sample method of illuminating aninput surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to representative embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood thatthe following descriptions are not intended to limit the embodiments toone preferred embodiment. To the contrary, it is intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents as can be included withinthe spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by theappended claims.

The following disclosure relates generally to a keyboard assembly for anelectronic device and, more particularly, to a light-emitting structurepositioned within a switch housing of a keyboard assembly for anelectronic device. The light-emitting structure may be a light-emittingassembly formed from a number of different elements.

In a particular embodiment, the light-emitting assembly may be formedfrom a light source positioned within a phosphor structure adjacent,touching, or at least partially surrounded by various layers ormaterials, including: sidewalls (which may be formed from a transparentmaterial or opaque material); epoxy (which may form a sidewall and maybe either opaque or transparent); a mask layer; and/or a heatdissipation layer. The light-emitting assembly generates and/ortransmits light in certain directions, such as through one or more ofthe phosphor structure and layers. The various layers may restrict lightto traveling through only three sides of the assembly, in certainembodiments.

Light exiting the light-emitting assembly generally has a commonwavelength and thus common color. Where the wavelengths and colors oflight traveling through all light-transmissible sides of the assemblyare equal, that light may illuminate an input surface such as a keycap.Accordingly, the keycap is substantially uniformly illuminated and hasreduced or no dim spots and/or color shifts. Additionally, because ofthe configuration of the various layers and materials forming thelight-emitting assembly, the light-emitting assembly may be aparallelepiped and compact, thereby reducing the space occupied withinthe keyboard assembly. Finally, where each key of the keyboard assemblyincludes an individual light-emitting assembly, keys and/or keycaps maybe illuminated individually or selectively.

These and other embodiments are discussed below with reference to FIGS.1-7. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that thedetailed description given herein with respect to these Figures is forexplanatory purposes only and should not be construed as limiting.

FIG. 1 shows an electronic device 100 including a low-travel keyboardassembly 200 that may incorporate a light-emitting assembly forilluminating keyboard assembly 200, as described in more detail belowwith respect to FIGS. 2-4. In a non-limiting example, as shown in FIG.1, electronic device 100 may be a laptop computer. However, it isunderstood that electronic device 100 may be configured as any suitableelectronic device that may utilize low-travel keyboard assembly 200.Other embodiments can implement electronic device 100 differently, suchas, for example, a desktop computer, a tablet computing device, atelephone, a gaming device, a display, a digital music player, awearable computing device or display, a health monitoring device, and soon.

Electronic device 100 may include a top case 102. Top case 102 may takethe form of an exterior, protective casing or shell for electronicdevice 100 and the various internal components (for example, low-travelkeyboard assembly 200) of electronic device 100. Top case 102 may beformed as a single, integral component, or may have a group of distinctcomponents that may be configured to be coupled to one another, asdiscussed herein. Additionally, top case 102 may be formed from anysuitable material(s) that provides a protective casing or shell forelectronic device 100 and the various components included in electronicdevice 100. In non-limiting examples, top case 102 may be made frommetal, a ceramic, a rigid plastic or another polymer, a fiber-matrixcomposite, and so on.

Low-travel keyboard assembly 200 may be included within electronicdevice 100 to allow a user to interact with electronic device 100. Asshown in FIG. 1, low-travel keyboard assembly 200 is positioned withinand/or may be received by top case 102 of electronic device 100.Low-travel keyboard assembly 200 may include a set of keycaps 300positioned within and partially protruding through and/or surrounded bytop case 102 of electronic device 100. As discussed herein, keycaps 300are depressed and displaced to at least partially collapse a dome switchof low-travel keyboard assembly 200, which in turn forms an electricalsignal or input to electronic device 100.

As discussed herein, keycap 300 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200 canbe illuminated by a light-emitting assembly. The light-emitting assemblyof low-travel keyboard assembly 200 is positioned in a switch housingsurrounding a dome switch, where the switch housing and dome switch arepositioned below keycap 300. That is, each individual keycap 300includes an individual switch housing, which includes an individuallight-emitting assembly positioned therein. As a result, a singlelight-emitting assembly illuminates each corresponding keycap 300. Thiscan improve brightness and light uniformity for each keycap, and betweenkeycaps.

Additionally, because each keycap 300 is illuminated by a single,corresponding light-emitting assembly, keycaps 300 of keyboard assembly200 can be illuminated individually or selectively. In some embodiments,other illumination schemes may be used. For example, adjacent of keyscan be lit by a single light-emitting assembly (e.g., one light-emittingassembly for each group of keys). In other embodiments, a row or columnof keys may be illuminated by a single light-emitting assembly. In stillother embodiments, light source assemblies may be located at differentpoints under a keyboard so that a relatively small number of assembliesmay illuminate an entire keyboard (or all keycaps of the keyboard). Inany or all embodiments, light source assemblies may be located within oroutside of switch housings, under keycaps, or under portions of thecasing. Further, light source assemblies described herein may be usedwith other input devices, including mice, track pads, buttons, switches,touch-sensitive and/or force-sensitive surfaces, and so on.

The light source assemblies of low-travel keyboard assembly 200 areformed from a light source positioned within a phosphor structuresurrounded by various layers or materials that may include one or moretransparent materials, one or more epoxy layers and one or more masklayers. The various layers to allow light to be emitted from only threesides of the assembly. Further, the emitted light has identicalwavelengths and color. Where the wavelengths and visible light color areidentical on all sides of the assembly, keycap 300 of low-travelkeyboard assembly 200 is illuminated by the light-emitting assembly witha consistent visible light color and does not have discrepancies inilluminating light color or intensity.

Additionally, and as discussed herein, because of the configuration ofthe various layers and materials forming the light-emitting assembly,the light-emitting assembly can be a parallelepiped. The parallelepipedshape of the light-emitting assembly of low-travel keyboard assembly mayreduce the overall size of light-emitting assembly and/or makeslight-emitting assembly substantially compact. With a reduced size, therequired amount of space occupied by light-emitting assembly withinkeyboard assembly 200 may also be reduced. This ultimately allows forlow-travel keyboard assembly 200 and/or electronic device 100 to have areduced size as well. It should be appreciated that substantially anyother geometric or non-geometric three-dimensional shape may also beused for a light-emitting assembly.

In the non-limiting example shown in FIG. 1, where electronic device 100is a laptop computer, low-travel keyboard assembly 200 may be positionedwithin and/or may be received by electronic device 100. In an additionalembodiment, low-travel keyboard assembly 200 may be a distinct,standalone component and may be in electronic communication, whetherwired or wireless, with electronic device 100. Low-travel keyboardassembly 200 may be configured to allow a user to interact withelectronic device 100.

FIG. 2 shows a light-emitting assembly 201 of low-travel keyboardassembly 200 (see, FIGS. 1 and 5-7). Light-emitting assembly 201 mayemit a light that travels from the assembly, into a switch housing, andis redirected by the switch housing to illuminate keycap 300. With thespatial constraints of light source recess 404 of switch housing 400(see, FIGS. 5-7), discussed herein, light-emitting assembly 201 may beconfigured to fit in light source recess 404 and provide light to keycap300, including during operation of low-travel keyboard assembly 200.

Light-emitting assembly may have a phosphor structure 202 andtransparent material 204 positioned on opposing sides surfaces ofphosphor structure 202. In some embodiments, the transparent materialmay be positioned on or otherwise abutting the phosphor material, eitherwholly or partially. The phosphor structure may be a phosphor-dopedmaterial and may overlay a light source 220. In some embodiments, thephosphor structure may alter a wavelength of a light emitted by thelight source, thereby altering its color. Further, in some embodimentsthe phosphor structure may luminesce (e.g., emit light) when the lightsource is active. Thus, the phosphor structure may be a luminescentstructure. As discussed herein, phosphor structure 202 and transparentmaterial 204 may allow light from a light source of light-emittingassembly 201 to be emitted through the respective portions.

The transparent material 204 may permit light to travel therethrough.Any suitable material may be used as the transparent material, includingvarious plastics, polymers, ceramics, glasses, and so on.

Light source 220 of light-emitting assembly 201 may be positioned withinphosphor structure 202. As shown in the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3and 4, light source 220 may be positioned substantially in the centerof, and substantially encompassed within, phosphor structure 202 oflight-emitting assembly 201. Light source 220 may emit a light throughphosphor structure 202 and transparent material 204 and, ultimately,through switch housing 400 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200, asdiscussed herein with respect to FIGS. 5-7. In some embodiments, thelight source 220 may be off-center with respect to the phosphorstructure 202 and/or light-emitting assembly 201.

A variety of different light sources 220 may be used in thelight-emitting assembly 201. For example, the light source 220 may be alight-emitting diode, an organic light-emitting diode, a quantum dot, acold cathode fluorescent lamp, and so on. Further, the light source mayemit multiple colors of light in some embodiments. As an example, thelight source may be a multicolor LED and the color emitted by the LEDmay change based on a user input, operating state, software or firmwarecommand, and so on. Some embodiments may also employ multiple lightsources 220 in a single light-emitting assembly 201.

Light-emitting assembly 201 may also have an epoxy layer 210 placed overan entire back surface 212 of phosphor structure 202 and transparentmaterial 204. In one embodiment, epoxy layer 210 may be substantiallylarger in one or more dimension than phosphor structure 202 andtransparent material 204, although this may vary between embodiments.More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, epoxy layer 210 may besubstantially wider than phosphor structure 202 and transparent material204 an example of this is shown in FIG. 4.

Returning to FIG. 2, epoxy layer 210 may be adjacent or abutting backsurface 212 of phosphor structure 202 and transparent material 204,which may substantially waterproof light-emitting assembly 201 and itscomponents. In non-limiting examples, epoxy layer 210 may besubstantially transparent to allow light from light source 220 to passthrough epoxy layer 210. Alternatively, epoxy layer 210 may be opaqueepoxy and prevent light from passing through epoxy layer 210. In someembodiments, the transparent material 204 may be formed on the phosphorstructure; likewise in some embodiments the epoxy may be directly formedon the back surface (e.g., rear). In other embodiments, the transparentmaterial and/or epoxy layer may be deposited or layered, rather thanformed, on their corresponding surfaces.

Light-emitting assembly 201 may also incorporate a mask layer 218. Masklayer 218 may be positioned over phosphor structure 202, transparentmaterial 204 and/or epoxy layer 210 of light-emitting assembly 201. In anon-limiting example shown in FIG. 2, phosphor structure 202,transparent material 204 and epoxy layer 210 of light-emitting assembly201 may have top surfaces that may be in planar alignment and may besubstantially covered by mask layer 218. Mask layer 218 may be formedfrom an opaque material to prevent light of light source 220 from beingemitted through mask layer 218.

With continued reference to FIG. 2, FIGS. 3 and 4 show cross-sectionviews of LED assembly 201. Specifically, FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectionalfront view of LED assembly 201 taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2, and FIG.4 shows a cross-sectional side view of LED assembly 201 taken along line4-4 in FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 4, light source 220 may have one or moreelectrical leads 222 electrically coupled to light source 220 and asubstrate 228, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) 500 of low travelkeyboard assembly 200 (see, FIGS. 5-7), to provide power to light source220. In the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 2-4, the electricalleads 222 electrically couple light source 220 to substrate 228, suchthat substrate 228 may provide power to light source 220, as discussedherein. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the electrical leads 222 may bepositioned in phosphor structure 202 and may extend toward back surface212 of phosphor structure 202. Portions of the leads 222 of light source220 may also extend through or be positioned within epoxy layer 210, sothat epoxy layer 210 seals (e.g., waterproofs) the electrical leads 222and, ultimately, light source 220, to prevent light source 220 fromundesirably shorting due to moisture exposure. As shown in FIG. 4, theportion of the electrical leads 222 placed and sealed within epoxy layer210 may be an end portion 224 of leads 222, which may be electricallycoupled to and/or in electronic communication with a light sourcecontact 234 of substrate 228 for receiving power for light source 220.

Light-emitting assembly 201 may also have a heat dissipation layer 226over mask layer 218. Heat dissipation layer 226 may be formed from aheat resistant material that may dissipate the heat generated by lightsource 220 and the light generated by light source 220. As light isemitted from light source 220, light may contact mask layer 218, but maynot be emitted through opaque mask layer 218. However, the light andlight source 220 may generate heat on or in mask layer 218. Heatdissipation layer 226 may be positioned on mask layer 218 to dissipatethe heat exposed to mask layer 218, which in turn reduce or preventchemical and/or physical changes to mask layer 218. In some embodiments,the mask layer and heat dissipation layer may be the same layer, orformed from the same material. For example, a thermally conductive masklayer may be used.

In some embodiments, the transparent material(s) 204, mask layer 218,heat dissipation layer 226, and/or epoxy layer 210 may be affixed to thephosphor structure 202. This may be accomplished by any or all of anadditional element such as an adhesive or fastener, an inherent propertyof one or more parts of the light-emitting assembly 201, or the methodof manufacture for the assembly. It should be appreciated that thevarious parts of the light-transmitting assembly 201 need not be affixedto one another. For example, they may be affixed to substrate 228 suchas a printed circuit board 500 or to a switch housing 400 (see, FIGS. 5and 6) instead.

FIGS. 2-4 show light rays, labeled L₁₋₃, emanating from light source220. These rays are examples and are not intended to illustrate anylimiting angle for emitted light. Rather, the light source 220 may emitlight at any angle and direction, including out-of-plane with theillustrated light rays. Thus, for example, the light source may emitlight in a hemispherical pattern, near-spherical pattern, conic pattern,and so on. Accordingly, the light rays are intended to show overall,sample directions of emitted light and particularly how light may passthrough certain surfaces of the light-emitting assembly 201.

In one embodiment, light may be emitted through three sides oflight-emitting assembly 201. In the non-limiting example shown in FIGS.4-6, light (L₁) may be emitted through a front face of light-emittingassembly 201 including phosphor structure 202. Likewise light (L₂) maybe emitted through a first sidewall 230 defined by transparent material204. Additionally, light (L₃) may be emitted through a second sidewall232 of light-emitting assembly 201 including transparent material 204.The second side surface 232 may be opposite first side surface 230. Thefirst and second side surfaces may be sidewalls.

Light (L₁) emitted through the front face of light-emitting assembly 201may have a wavelength substantially equal to a wavelength of light (L₂)emitted through first transparent sidewall 230 and a wavelength of light(L₃) emitted through second transparent sidewall 232. As a result of thewavelengths of light (L₁₋₃) being equal, the visible light color of thelight (L₁₋₃) may also be identical or substantially the same. That is,the visible light color of the light (L₁) emitted through the front faceof light-emitting assembly 201 may be substantially identical to avisible light color of light (L₂) emitted through first transparentsidewall 230 and a visible light color of light (L₃) emitted throughsecond transparent sidewall 232.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, light-emitting assembly 201 may be aparallelepiped, or substantially a parallelepiped. Further, phosphorstructure 202 and transparent material 204 positioned on opposite sidesof surfaces of phosphor structure 202 may be substantiallyparallelepiped-shaped. Other embodiments may employ light-emittingassemblies 201 of any suitable shape and/or size, including irregularshapes. Likewise, a shape of the phosphor structure 202 need not match ashape of the overall assembly.

As a result of its geometry, light-emitting assembly 201 may requireless space in low-travel keyboard assembly 200, as discussed herein withrespect to FIGS. 5-7. Further, the aforementioned transparent materialmay form one or more transparent sidewalls of the light-emittingassembly. For example and as shown in FIG. 2, opposing sidewalls may beformed from the transparent material. Similarly, a rear or back surfaceof the light-emitting assembly may be formed from epoxy or anothersuitable material, and may be opaque. A front face of the light-emittingassembly 201 may be formed by a front surface of the phosphor structure.A mask layer may overlay the phosphor structure and upper surfaces ofthe sidewalls, thereby defining a top of the assembly. As also shown inFIG. 2, the phosphor structure may abut the sidewalls and the opaquematerial forming the rear, although other embodiments may include spacesbetween any or all of the foregoing. Further and as shown in FIGS. 2-4,the phosphor structure may fill an interior of the light-emittingassembly, as defined by the sidewalls, rear, and mask layer.

Additionally, because of the geometric shape of light-emitting assembly201 and the inclusion of transparent material 204 positioned on oppositesides of phosphor structure 202, the wavelength and, ultimately, thevisible light color of the light emitted by light source 220 may besubstantially identical on all sides of light-emitting assembly 201.That is, the greater the thickness of phosphor structure 202 in whichlight from light source 220 must travel through, the more the wavelengthof the light will change. However, a wavelength of light fromlight-emitting assembly 201 may be tuned by adding or removing moretransparent material 204. This may ensure that the wavelength of light(L₁) emitted through the front face, including front surface of phosphorstructure 202, is equal to the wavelengths of the light (L₂, L₃) emittedthrough first sidewall and second sidewall including transparentmaterial 204. And, as discussed herein, wherein the wavelengths of lightemitted through light-emitting assembly 201 are equal, the visible lightcolor of light emitted through light-emitting assembly 201 may also beidentical or substantially the same, creating a uniform illuminationcolor for keycap 300 of keyboard assembly 200 (see, FIGS. 5-7).

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a sample key structure of low-travel keyboardassembly 200 that utilizes light-emitting assembly 201 (see, FIG. 6),according to non-limiting examples. Specifically, FIG. 5 shows adetailed exploded view of a portion of top case 102 of electronic device100 and a single key structure 502 that utilizes light-emitting assembly201, as discussed herein. FIG. 6 shows a cross-section view of thesingle key assembly 502, taken along line CS-CS of FIG. 5. It isunderstood that similarly named components or similarly numberedcomponents may function in a substantially similar fashion, may includesimilar materials and/or may include similar interactions with othercomponents. Redundant explanation of these components has been omittedfor clarity.

As shown in FIG. 5, top case 102 of electronic device 100 (see, FIG. 1)may include one or more keyholes 104 formed therethrough. Top case 102may also include ribs or other supports 106 between or about the keycaps300, and may substantially surround and/or may be positioned within thespace between the keycaps 300 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200.

Low-travel keyboard assembly 200 may be made from a number of layers orcomponents positioned adjacent to and/or coupled to one another. Thecomponents positioned in layers may be positioned adjacent to and/orcoupled to one another, and may be sandwiched between top case 102 and abottom case (not shown) of electronic device 100.

The keycaps 300 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200 may be positioned atleast partially within keyholes 104 of top case 102. Each of the keycaps300 may include a glyph 302 positioned on a top or exposed surface ofthe keycap 300. Each glyph 302 of keycap 300 may be substantiallytransparent to allow a light to be emitted through and/or illuminatekeycap 300. In the non-limiting example shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, keycap300 may be substantially opaque, except for glyph 302, which may betransparent to allow light to be emitted through keycap 300.Additionally, the perimeter of keycap 300 may be substantiallyilluminated by light emitted between the space between keycap 300 andskeletal ribs 106 of top case 102.

As shown in FIG. 6, keycap 300 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200 mayinclude retaining members 304, 306 positioned on keycap 300. Morespecifically, keycap 300 may include at least one first retaining member304 positioned on first side 308 and at least one second retainingmember 306 positioned on a second side 310 of keycap 300, opposite firstside 308. Retaining members 304, 306 may be formed, positioned, orretained on an underside 312 of keycap 300 adjacent a switch housing 400of low-travel keyboard assembly 200. The retaining members 304, 306 maybe utilized to couple keycap 300 within low-travel keyboard assembly 200and, specifically, to couple keycap 300 to a hinge mechanism 322 coupledto PCB 500. Hinge mechanism 322, as shown in FIG. 6, may include anysuitable hinge mechanism 322 capable of moving keycap 300 from anundepressed (e.g., rest) state to a depressed state, including, but notlimited to, a butterfly hinge mechanism, a scissor hinge mechanism, atelescoping hinge mechanism or a sliding hinge mechanism. Hingemechanism 322 may be coupled to and/or positioned within recess a 502formed in PCB 500 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200.

The keycaps 300 may be positioned above corresponding switch housings400 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200, and may interact with acorresponding switch housing 400. Each switch housing 400 of low-travelkeyboard assembly 200 may include a switch opening 402 extendingcompletely through switch housing 400, and a light source recess 404formed within each switch housing 400. Some switch housings 400 maydefine multiple light source recesses 404, each of which may house itsown light-emitting assembly 201 or multiple assemblies. Further, thelight source recess 404 may be sized such that one or more of itsinterior walls engage the exterior of the light-emitting assembly 201,or gaps may exist between the interior walls of the light source recessand any or all parts of the light-emitting assembly's exterior.

As shown in FIG. 6, switch opening 402 may receive and/or house domeswitch 406, which may be collapsed in response to keycap 300translating. The dome switch collapses (or partially collapse) togenerate an electrical connection acting as a signal to electronicdevice 100 (see, FIG. 1). Additionally, as shown in FIG. 6, light sourcerecess 404 of switch housing 400 may receive light-emitting assembly201, which may emit a light through switch housing 400 to provide alight around the perimeter of keycap 300 and/or through transparentglyph 302 (see, FIG. 5) of keycap 300. Additionally in anothernon-limiting example, light-emitting assembly 201 may emit lightdirectly toward recess 502 to aid in illuminating the perimeter ofkeycap 300. Although discussed herein as a dome switch, it is understoodthat switch opening 402 may receive or house different types ofswitches.

As also shown in FIG. 6, switch housing 400 may include a body portion410 and a top panel 412 formed integrally and molded to body portion410. Body portion 410 of switch housing 400 may include switch opening402 and light source recess 404 adjacent switch opening 402. Bodyportion 410 may be directly coupled to PCB 500, as shown in FIG. 6.

Body portion 410 and top panel 412 of switch housing 400 may be formedfrom distinct materials. That is, body portion 410 may be formed from afirst material having substantially rigid properties for supportingkeycap 300 during operation of low-travel keyboard assembly 200 and/orprotecting the various components (e.g., dome switch 406, light-emittingassembly 201) included within switch housing 400. The first materialforming body portion 410 of switch housing 400 may also be transparentand/or reflective to direct light out of the switch housing and towardthe keycap 300. In a non-limiting example, light source 220 oflight-emitting assembly 201 may emit light through transparent switchhousing 400, and switch housing 400 may substantially reflect and/orallow light to be transmitted through the transparent material of switchhousing 400 to illuminate glyph 302 on keycap 300 and/or the perimeterof keycap 300.

The top panel 412 may act as a light guide to direct light emitted fromlight-emitting assembly 201 to keycap 300. The top panel 412 may includestructures configured to focus light on specific areas of the keycap orabout the keycap, as well as reflective structures configured to directlight toward the keycap. For example, lenses, apertures, and the likemay emit light from the top panel, while an upper surface of the toppanel may reflect light incident on the panel.

Top panel 412 of switch housing 400 may be formed integrally with bodyportion 410. As one example, as shown in FIG. 6, top panel 412 may beovermolded on body portion 410 and may cover switch opening 402 of bodyportion 410. In a non-limiting example, top panel 412 may be formedintegrally with body portion 410 using a double-shot housing formationprocess. Top panel 412 may be formed from a second material, distinctfrom the first material forming body portion 410, and may besubstantially flexible/deformable. As discussed herein, top panel 412may substantially flex and protect dome switch 406 when keycap 300 isdepressed. In addition to being flexible, the second material formingtop panel 412 may have substantially transparent properties that allowlight to pass through top panel 412 to keycap 300 and/or substantiallyreflective properties to redirect light toward keycap 300.

Top panel 412 may be positioned over switch opening 402 not only toredirect light toward keycap 300 but also to substantially protect domeswitch 406 from wear. That is, when a force is applied to keycap 300 todepress keycap 300, keycap 300 may contact top panel 412 of switchhousing 400, which may subsequently deform and collapse dome switch 406to form an electrical connection. By acting as a barrier between keycap300 and dome switch 406, top panel 412 may reduce the wear on domeswitch 406 over the operational life of low-travel keyboard assembly200.

Top panel 412 may also include a first contact protrusion 418 positionedon a first surface 420 of the top panel 412. First contact protrusion418 may be positioned directly adjacent a second contact protrusion 340on underside 312 of keycap 300. The first contact protrusion 418 of toppanel 412 and the second contact protrusion 340 of keycap 300 maycontact one another when keycap 300 is depressed and may more evenlydistribute the force applied to top panel 412 and, subsequently, domeswitch 406 when keycap 300 is depressed. By distributing the forcethrough top panel 412, the wear on dome switch 406 may be furtherreduced over the operational life of low-travel keyboard assembly 200.

Switch housing 400 may also include a roof portion 426 over light sourcerecess 404. More specifically, body portion 410 of switch housing 400may include a roof portion 426 positioned over light source recess 404and light-emitting assembly positioned within light source recess 404.As shown in FIG. 6, roof portion 426 of switch housing 400 may be formedintegrally with switch housing 400 and, specifically, body portion 410of switch housing 400. However, it is understood that roof portion 426of switch housing 400 may be formed from a distinct component ormaterial that may be coupled to body portion 410 of switch housing 400.Roof portion 426 of switch housing 400 may be substantially opaque toprevent the light of light-emitting assembly 201 from being emittedthrough roof portion 426. In a non-limiting example, substantiallyopaque roof portion 426 may work in conjunction with mask layer 218 oflight-emitting assembly 201, as discussed herein with respect to FIG. 4,to prevent light from passing directly toward keycap 300 and/or throughroof portion 426 of switch housing 400.

Low-travel keyboard assembly 200 may also include a printed circuitboard (PCB) 500 positioned below the group of switch housings 400. PCB500 may be similar to substrate 228 discussed herein with respect toFIGS. 2-4. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, switch housings 400 may be coupledto PCB 500 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200. More specifically, PCB500 may include a number of recesses 502 within PCB 500, where eachrecess 502 of PCB 500 may receive a corresponding switch housing 400 oflow-travel keyboard assembly 200. Each switch housing 400 may bepositioned completely within, and coupled to the surface of, recess 502of PCB 500. PCB 500 may provide a rigid support structure for switchhousing 400, and the various components forming low-travel keyboardassembly 200.

PCB 500 may also include one or more apertures 504 extending througheach of the recesses 502. That is, aperture 504 may pass completelythrough PCB 500 in recess 502. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, aperture 504of PCB 500 may be substantially aligned with switch opening 402 ofswitch housing 400 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200. The apertures504 of PCB 500 may be utilized to receive a portion of the dome switchpositioned within switch housing 400 when the dome switch collapses.

As shown in FIG. 6 and discussed herein with respect to FIGS. 2-4,light-emitting assembly 201 and, specifically, leads 222 of light source220 may be in electrical contact with light source contact 234 extendingfrom or through PCB 500. Light source contact 234 may be incommunication with a light source driver 530 positioned on secondsurface 518 of PCB 500. PCB 500 may have a number of light sourcedrivers 530 positioned on second surface 518, where each light sourcedriver 530 corresponds to, and is in electronic communication with,light-emitting assembly 201 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200. lightsource drivers 530 positioned on second surface 518 of PCB 500 may beconfigured to provide power and/or control to light-emitting assembly201 during operation of low-travel keyboard assembly 200 included inelectronic device 100 (see, FIG. 1). It is understood that FIG. 6,showing a single key assembly, may represent some or all of the keys forlow-travel keyboard assembly 200. Where each key assembly of low-travelkeyboard assembly 200 is structured similar to the key assembly shown inFIG. 6, each switch housing 400 for each key of low-travel keyboardassembly 200 may have light-emitting assembly 201. As a result, eachindividual keycap 300 may be illuminated by the corresponding individuallight-emitting assembly 201.

Low-travel keyboard assembly 200, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, may includea keyboard shield 600 positioned below PCB 500. Keyboard shield 600 maybe formed from a conductive adhesive sheet 602 adhered to PCB 500opposite switch housing 400. Conductive adhesive sheet 602 of shield 600may include a venting system 604, which vents air expelled from switchhousing 400 when dome switch 406 collapses, as discussed herein. Asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6, venting system 604 may include a group ofchannels 606 formed within and/or partially through conductive adhesivesheet 602 of shield 600 which may be in fluid communication and/or maybe substantially aligned with dome switch opening 402 formed in switchhousing 400 and aperture 504 formed through PCB 500. Conductive adhesivesheet 602 of keyboard shield 600 may be utilized to transmit signals toand/or from keyboard assembly 200 of electronic device 100 during userinteraction.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of switch housing 400 including light-emittingassembly 201. Roof portion 426 of switch housing 400 and mask layer 218of light-emitting assembly 201 are omitted in FIG. 7 to clearly showlight-emitting assembly 201 positioned within light source recess 404 ofswitch housing 400. As discussed herein with respect to FIGS. 2 and 6,roof portion 426 of switch housing 400 and mask layer 218 oflight-emitting assembly 201 may prevent light from passing through roofportion 426, directly toward keycap 300. As shown in FIG. 7,light-emitting assembly 201 may be substantially surrounded by threesidewalls 450 of light source recess 404 of switch housing 400. In oneexample, light source recess 404 may be bounded by three sidewalls 450to ensure that light emitted by light-emitting assembly 201 passesthrough a large portion of switch housing 400 and subsequentlyilluminates keycap 300 of low-travel keyboard assembly 200. That is, bysubstantially surrounding light-emitting assembly 201 with sidewalls 450of light source recess 404, a majority of light (L₁₋₃) may directly passthrough switch housing 400 and/or switch housing 400 may reflect light(L₁₋₃) toward keycap 300.

As shown in FIG. 7, light-emitting assembly 201 may be surrounded by acurable, transparent resin 236 (hereafter, “resin 236”) that may bepositioned between light-emitting assembly 201 and sidewalls 450 oflight source recess 404 of switch housing 400. Resin 236 may be formedor placed over light-emitting assembly 201 after light-emitting assembly201 is positioned within light source recess 404 of switch housing 400,to retain light-emitting assembly in light source recess 404 and/or toseal light-emitting assembly 201 from outside contaminants (e.g.,water). Additionally, resin 236 may aid in dissipating heat fromlight-emitting assembly during operation of low-travel keyboard assembly200. Furthermore, the transparent characteristics or properties of resin236 may allow light to pass through resin 236 toward recess 502 to aidin illuminating the perimeter of keycap 300, as discussed herein.

Operation of a sample embodiment will now be described with respect toFIG. 8. Initially, in operation 800 a light source may be activated.Light may be transmitted from the light source and through thelight-emitting assembly in operation 802. For example, light may passthrough the phosphor structure and/or transparent material of thelight-emitting assembly. Likewise, light may be blocked from exiting theassembly in certain directions, for example by the mask layer and/orepoxy. The phosphor material may color-shift the light as it passestherethrough, although this is not necessary.

In operation 804, light may exit the light-emitting assembly and enteran associated switch housing. A body of the switch housing may redirectthe light upward, for example toward a top panel of the switch housing.In some embodiments, the body (or portions thereof) may be reflective tofacilitate redirection of light. In other embodiments, light may not besubstantially redirected or may be moderately or minimally redirected.Further, the top panel may act as a light guide to redirect light fromthe switch housing toward a key cap or other input surface

In operation 806, light may exit the top panel and emanate toward anunderside of the key cap or other input surface. In operation 808, thelight may illuminate a glyph on the key cap and/or may illuminate aperimeter of the key cap.

Although discussed herein as a keyboard assembly, it is understood thatthe disclosed embodiments may be used in a variety of input devices usedin various electronic devices. That is, low-travel keyboard assembly 200and the components of the assembly discussed herein may be utilized orimplemented in a variety of input devices for an electronic deviceincluding, but not limited to, buttons, switches, toggles, wheels, andtouch screens.

The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specificnomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the describedembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe specific details are not required in order to practice the describedembodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specificembodiments described herein are presented for purposes of illustrationand description. They are not targeted to be exhaustive or to limit theembodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations arepossible in view of the above teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A light-emitting assembly, comprising: a phosphorstructure; a first sidewall formed from a transparent material andpositioned on a first side of the phosphor structure; a second sidewallformed from the transparent material and positioned on a second side ofthe phosphor structure; an epoxy layer adjacent the phosphor structure;and a light source within the phosphor structure.
 2. The light-emittingassembly of claim 1, wherein the phosphor structure comprises: a frontsurface; a back surface opposite the front surface and connected theretoby the first side and second side of the phosphor structure; and thefront surface forms a front face of the light-emitting assembly.
 3. Thelight-emitting assembly of claim 2, wherein: the first side and secondside of the phosphor structure are opposite one another; the epoxy layeris adjacent the back surface; and the epoxy layer forms a rear of thelight-emitting assembly.
 4. The light-emitting assembly of claim 3,wherein the epoxy layer extends over at least one of the first sidewalland second sidewall.
 5. The light-emitting assembly of claim 2, whereinthe light source is embedded in the phosphor structure.
 6. Thelight-emitting assembly of claim 2, further comprising an opaque masklayer extending over a top of the phosphor structure.
 7. Thelight-emitting assembly of claim 6, further comprising a heatdissipating layer adjacent the mask layer.
 8. The light-emittingassembly of claim 2, further comprising electrical leads connected tothe light source, positioned within the phosphor structure, andextending toward the back surface.
 9. The light-emitting assembly ofclaim 8, wherein: a portion of the electrical leads are within the epoxylayer, and the epoxy layer waterproofs the electrical leads.
 10. Thelight-emitting assembly of claim 2, wherein a shape of thelight-emitting assembly is a parallelepiped.
 11. A keyboard assembly,comprising: a switch housing defining a switch opening and a lightsource recess formed in a sidewall of the switch opening; a keycappositioned above the switch housing; and a light-emitting assemblypositioned within the light source recess of the switch housing, andcomprising: a luminescent structure; and a transparent sidewall adjacentthe luminescent structure; wherein the light source transmits lightthrough the transparent sidewall and the luminescent structure; and theswitch housing guides light from the light-emitting structure to thekeycap.
 12. The keyboard assembly of claim 11, wherein the luminescentstructure is formed from a phosphor material.
 13. The keyboard assemblyof claim 11, wherein the light source emits light through the switchhousing formed from the substantially transparent material.
 14. Thekeyboard assembly of claim 11, wherein the keycap includes a transparentglyph formed through the keycap.
 15. The keyboard assembly of claim 14,wherein the light source emits light to at least one of: a perimeter ofthe keycap; and the transparent glyph formed through the keycap.
 16. Thekeyboard assembly of claim 11, wherein the light-emitting assembly issubstantially surrounded on three sides by sidewalls of the light sourcerecess.
 17. The keyboard assembly of claim 16, further comprising atransparent resin positioned over the light-emitting assembly, betweenthe light-emitting assembly and the sidewalls of the light sourcerecess.
 18. A method for illuminating an input surface, comprising:activating a light source; transmitting light from the light source,through a light-emitting assembly, and into a switch housing;redirecting, by a function of the switch housing, the light from theswitch housing to an underside of the input surface, therebyilluminating the input surface.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising shifting a color of the light while the light transmitsthrough the light-emitting assembly.
 20. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising blocking the light from transmitting in a particulardirection.